Emotional and Social Development in Late Adulthood

Emotional and Social Development in Late AdulthoodErikson’s Theory: Ego Integrity vs. Despair is the final stage of life. This involvescoming to terms with one’s life. If there is a sense of integrity, people feel whole,complete, and satisfied with their life choices and achievements. They have accepted thesetbacks and disappointments and celebrated the successes and found a way to meaningwithin all these life events. Everything gets put into a perspective which allows a certaincontentment with life. Increased age is associated with greater maturity and well-being.There is even a peace about one’s mortality, even as close to the end as these people are.Despair, on the other hand occurs when seniors feel they have made wrong decisions, butlife is too short to remedy any life directions. They display bitterness, defeat and anxietyabout death, a hopelessness. Their contempt for themselves is displayed as anger towardothers. This further alienates them from the very relationships they need to put right inorder to find peace. It is a sad cycle.Other Theories of Psychosocial Development in Late Adulthood Peck’s Theory: three Tasks of Ego Integrity are involved in finding integrity:o Ego differentiation vs. work-role preoccupation. This task comes out ofretirement, as people who have been invested in careers find other ways toself-worth. They must find another role to invest in and find meaning.o Body transcendence vs. body preoccupation. This task requires findinga way to transcend physical limitations, disabilities, loss of youth andbeauty, to find value in cognitive, social strengths & relationships.o Ego transcendence vs. ego preoccupation. This task involves finding aconstructive way of facing the reality of death. Elders must find a futurebeyond their own mortality, through giving back to a younger generation. Labouvie-Vief’s Theory: Emotional Expertise. Early adulthood is all aboutpragmatic choices- finding ways to solve real-world problems, at work as well aswithin relationships. Elders are becoming more in touch with their feelings andmust use those feelings to reflect on their life experiences. This emotionalsensitivity allows elders to detach from experiences in order to choose better howto respond. Younger people are more impulsively emotional in their coping andproblem-solving. Elders are better at emotional self-regulation. Reminiscence and Life Reviewo Reminiscence is telling stories about people and events from one’s past,and reporting thoughts and feelingso Life review is reminiscence in which the person reflects on pastexperiences, considering their meaning with the goal of achieving greaterself-understanding. . It’s part of coming to terms with one’s life choicesand experiences. These life review experiences result in elders findingmore respect for their lives and general life satisfaction. When peoplereview their lives, 30% say the best time of their lives is the present.Middle age was also assessed as satisfying, with childhood andadolescence ranked as less satisfying. Other purposes of life review:• Self-focused reminiscence, if linked to reviving bitter events ispathological- they are ruminating in negative directions, feelingbadly as they remember the past.

• Other-focused reminiscence is directed at social goals, family,reliving relationships with others. These people are moreextraverted, so their memories are more focused on others.• Knowledge-based reminiscence uses the past to solve problemsand teach younger people. Certain cultures rely on elders tellingthe stories of their people in order to enlighten younger membersin how to live honorably. (Chinese, African-American, Native-American groups)• Reminiscence also occurs during times of life transitionretirement,loss of spouse, moves- these reminiscences allow for afeeling of continuity and meaning in the face of change.Stability and Change in Self-Concept and Personality Secure and Multifaceted Self-Concept- after a lifetime of self-knowledge,people feel more secure about whom they are, and their self-concepts becomemore complex and multi-faceted. With that complex knowledge, people can makecompensations in areas of weakness, and they develop deeper self-acceptance.People define themselves more broadly, not just in terms of work. Healthy eldersreport areas they still hope for development, as if they are still a work in progress. Agreeableness, Sociability, and Acceptance of Change- there are 3 shifts inpersonality at this point: a more flexible and optimist approach to life is present.o Agreeableness – generosity, acquiescence, and good-naturedness arehigher for many people at this point.o Sociability drops to some extent, as people become more selective aboutrelationships and significant people die or move away.o Acceptance of change seems to link to well-being. They develop acapacity to accept life’s vagaries, and they are resilient in the face ofadversity. Spirituality and Religiosity- their sense of spirituality encompasses their livesmore meaningfully. Often there develops a sense of truth and beauty in art, nature,and relationships. Religion gives people rituals that stabilize life and givemeaning to the life struggle. 76% of Americans over 65 say religion is veryimportant in their lives, and 16% say it is fairly important. They may not be asactive in church because of physical limitations or transportation issues, but theysay they would devote more time to it if they could. Spirituality advances to ahigher level in late life- to a more reflective approach that is more at ease with theunknowable aspects of life.o Fowler’s Stages of Faith Development show there can be a developmentof understanding of one’s beliefs in relation to others’. Women are morelikely than men to be church members, to be active in religious activities,and to report a desire to connect with the Divine. It may have to do withwomen’s common cultural roles- caregiving to various generations,widowhood, greater risk of poverty, unmanageable stress.• Intuitive-projective- 3-7 is when children’s fantasy life allowsthem to be influenced by stories and faith of adults.

• Mythic-literal- 7-11 is when internalize the stories and rituals oftheir faith literally.• Synthetic-conventional- adolescence is when people set up abelief system as a basis for identity.• Individuative-reflective-adulthood is when people reflect on theirbeliefs and begin to recognize that others believe other things, andthey more actively form an ideology in terms of meaning forthemselves personally.• Conjunctive- Late adulthood is when people incorporate the entirehuman community in their values- to stand up against persecutionand work for the good of people they don’t even know.World War II Refugee and Evacuee Children Look back at Old Age- thesepeople were either evacuated from Europe and Britain early in the war to savetheir lives, never to see their families again, or were evacuated and returned totheir families after the war. Their recollections varied according to the quality ofcare their received, age at separation, and temperament. Care situations werefamilies, institutions. The better care they got, the more their memories werepositive, but bonds with the former family were often lost. Those who gotindifferent care couldn’t bond and were left in “emotional limbo” without newattachments. This loss of bonding had a lasting impact on withdrawn, anxiousindividuals than on more extraverted people who found others to bond with. Timeof separation made a difference- children were more affected than adolescents.Teens did better in group homes or boarding schools. They often found otherpeers to bond with at this point. Some that lived in group homes felt isolated,without love however. Those who were reunited with families were young adultsand their reunification was bittersweet- since both children and families hadchanged so much. Without reunification, however, there is idealization of the lostfamily and unresolved grief. Those who lost their entire families to the Holocaustfelt the loss even more intensely as time went on. Even so, most people that wentthrough this experience were reasonably well-adjusted, finding love later, andcareers. They usually have a strong resilience of spirit, feeling they have alreadyfaced the worst the world could dish out.Individual differences in Psychological Well-Being- what makes the difference in aperson’s life adaptation and well-being? Control vs. Dependency- there are 2 common scripts of people helping elderso Dependency-support script is a script in which dependent behaviors areattended to immediately, reinforcing the weaker member in herdependency.o Independence-ignore script is a script where independent behaviors areignored, also reinforcing dependency in the weaker member.Unfortunately, being dependent is not a happy state, so the helper is oftenresented, even though the elder may recognize s/he needs the help. Thesenegative feelings can foster depression. Context makes a differencehowever, since the more lovingly the help is offered, the easier it is to

accept without regret. Elders will need help, but we can offer it withoutexpressing disgust or impatience for their needs.o Elder Suicide is not always evident. Sometimes elders quit eating, takingcare of emotional or physical problems, refusing to take meds, refusingrelationships that could be encouraging. Suicide peaks in late life, around75, especially for men. Five times more elderly men commit suicide aswomen, even though women have greater rates of depression. Womenhave broader networks of social support, however. Men choose moredefinitive means of suicide- guns, which allow little resuscitation. Whitepeople are at highest risk, ethnically.o Factors related to Elder suicide- Two life events can prompt suicide:loss- of job, spouse may put people at sea trying to cope and adjust; andchronic or terminal illness that cause pain or diminish independentfunctioning. Men are so socialized to be active and independent, that ifthey lose that to an illness, they often can’t find any compensating aspectsof life.• Prevention and treatment – there are some warning signsputtingaffairs in order, veiled statements about going away, dying,sleep or appetite changes. There are often self-destructive acts suchas refusing to eat, or go to the doctor, or take meds. As many as70% of suicide victims saw their doctor within a month of takingtheir lives, yet family nor doctor picked up on signals of despair.They need antidepressant meds, therapy, possibly hospitalizationto deal with the immediate crisis. It’s good if regular home visitorscan be engaged, as well as day activities for the person to lookforward to.Health is a strong predictor of well-being in late adulthood. When people faceillness or chronic disabilities, they feel a loss of personal control. Not only doeshelplessness increase, but social isolation increases, too. Then as mental healthdeclines, it affects physical health, as people eat more poorly, get out less, distractthemselves less from their ailments. If a senior must move to a nursing home,there is a redefinition of identity, as a person who can survive only in aninstitution. Many people get seriously depressed and deteriorate rapidly in anursing home. Serious depression is associated with suicide. If they can retain anyautonomy in an institution, it contributes to their successful survival.Negative Life Changes occur more often in late adulthood- loss of friends,spouses, poor health issues, financial strain & greater dependency. This issues hitwomen more often, but they still report that they have people who depend onthem emotionally, so they retain some of their former identity, even though manyrelationships often feel strained, due to the women’s lower ability to care forothers.Social Support and Social Interaction – social support reduces stress, so itpromotes health & well-being, and increases the odds of living longer. If eldersrequire much assistance from others, though, they often feel distressed that theycan no longer reciprocate. Paid helpers relieve some of that sense of obligation by

elders. Being more extraverted helps seniors to retain good mood and stay activeand connected to others.A Changing Social World Social Theories of Agingo Disengagement Theory- the idea that social interaction declines becauseof mutual withdrawal between elders and society in anticipation of death.But not everyone disengages.o Activity theory is the theory that there are social barriers to engagement,not just the desires of elders to disengage. Offering older adultsopportunities for social contact does not guarantee greater sociability.o Socioemotional Selectivity Theory states that social networks becomemore selective as we age. People limit their contacts to familiar partnerswith whom they have the most rewarding relationships. Social Contexts: Communities, Neighborhoods, and Housingo Communities and Neighborhoods- elders living in the suburbs are betteroff in terms of income and health, but elders in inner cities have greateraccess to social services. Those in small towns have the least access.Elders in small communities report greater life satisfaction.o Aging, Time Perception, and Social Goalso Victimization and Fear of Crime – those elders who live alone or ininner-city areas suffer with fears of criminal victimization. It restricts theiractivities and undermines morale.o Housing arrangements• Ordinary Homes offer seniors the greatest personal control overtheir lives. When health and mobility problems appear, livingalone presents safety issues, as well as financial difficulties.• Residential communities are designed to offer elders as muchsafety and autonomy as is possible. These centers also offerrecreational activities, transportation, & support services. Congregate housing offers common meals in a diningroom, as well as transportation and activities. Life care communities offer a variety of care- fromindependent or congregate housing to full nursing care.When there is a sense of community, life satisfaction ishigher. Nursing homes represent the greatest restriction ofautonomy, but are necessary when family can no longercare for the physical/ nursing needs of a senior. Socialinteraction between residents is generally low, as languageis often impaired, as well as cognitive function.Relationships in Late Adulthood Social convoy is a cluster of family members and friends who provide safety andsupport. Some bonds become closer with age, others more distant, a few aregained, and some drift away. Elders do try to maintain social networks of familyand friends to preserve security and life continuity.

Marriage – marital satisfaction rises from middle to late adulthood if perceptionsof fairness in the relationship increase. If couples engage in joint leisure activitiesand enjoy more positive communication, their relationships become moresatisfying.Gay and Lesbian partnerships also report happy, highly fulfilling relationshipsin later life.Divorce and remarriage is more stressful for older than younger adults.Remarriage rates are low in late adulthood, but those who do remarry seem tocreate more stable relationships. Women suffer more financially in divorce late inlife. There is much less chance of women remarrying at this point in life.Widowhoodo Adaptation to Widowhood varies according to age, social support, andpersonality. Being widowed is somewhat easier later in life than earlier,since it is more natural at the later stage in life. Those widows whomaintain social ties, have outgoing personalities, high self-esteem, and asense of self-efficacy in dealing with their needs have more positiveadjustments.• Social support• Senior centers• Support groups• Religious activities• Volunteer activitiesNever-Married, Childless Older Adults can develop alternative meaningfulrelationships.Siblings- Bonds with sisters are generally closer than those with brothers.Siblings enjoy reminiscing as they enter later adulthood. This allows them to feela family continuity and harmony, as well as begin to put their lives into aperspective as they naturally do a life review.Friendships function to offer intimacy and companionship, acceptance, a link tothe larger community, and protection from the toll of loss- physical andemotional. Women are more likely to have both intimate friends and secondaryfriends- people who are acquaintances they do some activities with occasionally.o Functions of Elder Friendships• Intimacy and companionship• Elderly women find acceptance• Friendships link seniors to the larger community• Friendships help protect elders from psychologicalconsequences of losso Characteristics of Elder Friendships• Secondary friendsRelationships with Adult Children are important, as they exchange advice orwisdom, even offering some direct assistance. It is important if assistance isoffered, though, that the elder maintain some means of reciprocation. Elders donot like to feel indebted to adult children, as they don’t want to feel they cannottake care of themselves.

Relationships with Adult Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren offerelders a wider network of support. These are affectionate relationships, not somuch aid or support. Affection may decline as the elder ages, but they feel greataffection for adult grandchildren.Elder Maltreatment may occur at the hands of family members, caretakers, orfriends. One of the most problematic situation is when there is a dependencybetween the elder and caregiver. Often the perpetrator is financially dependent onthe elder and resents the person for that dependency. There are also problems inovercrowded institutions that are not sufficiently supervised.o Forms• Physical abuse• Physical neglect• Psychological abuse• Financial abuseo Risk factors• Dependency of the victim• Dependency of the Perpetrator• Psychological disturbance and stress of the perpetrator• History of family violence• Institutional conditionso Prevention includes elder-abuse prevention programs that offer caregiverscounseling, education and respite services. There are trained volunteersand support groups that help them avoid future harm. Public educationalso encourages reporting of suspected abuse.Retirement and Leisure Decision to retire depends on affordability, health status, opportunities to pursuemeaningful activities, early retirement benefits, gender and ethnicity. Womenretire earlier than most men because of family demands. Those with poorretirement benefits or who suffer poverty may need to continue working. Thisespecially affects African-Americans. Adjustment to Retirement is affected by health status, financial stability, senseof personal control over life events, including the retirement decision,characteristics of the work they did, satisfaction derived from work, social supportand marital happiness. Leisure Activities engaged in relate to physical and mental health, but they alsorelate to reduced mortality. It is best to develop hobbies and interests andvolunteer activities before retirement that can be invested in more seriously afterretirement.Successful aging occurs when elders have developed many ways to minimize losses andmaximize gains. Social contexts can foster successful aging. These are such things aswell-funded social security plans, good health care, safe housing that adjusts to changesin elders’ needs, social services, opportunities for lifelong learning. Better in-home help,adapted housing and sensitive nursing home care could make a difference in aging, too.